title: The need for artificial tears in glaucoma patients: a comparative, retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the need for artificial tears by glaucoma patients under topical hypotensive treatment and to identify risk factors associated with it.
  
  
  METHODS
  The charts of 175 glaucoma patients under medical treatment and 175 age-matched controls were reviewed. Age, gender, use of artificial tears, number of glaucoma medications used, and duration of treatment were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly more glaucoma patients (n=92; 52.6%) used artificial tears compared to age-matched controls (n=31; 17.7%) (p<0.001). Significantly more females (n=81; 39%) than males (n=42; 28.9%) used artificial tears (p=0.036). When the whole population was analyzed, female gender (OR=1.63) and the presence of glaucoma (OR= 5.14) were risk factors for the use of artificial tears (p<0.05). When the glaucoma population was analyzed, female gender (OR=2.57), number of medications >2 (OR=1.92), and duration of treatment >5 years (OR=2.93) were risk factors for the use of artificial tears (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical treatment with antiglaucoma medication is a risk factor for the use of artificial tears. Female gender and long-term treatment of glaucoma with two or more medications were aggravating factors for the need for artificial tears.
authors.affiliation: Setor de Glaucoma, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP - Campinas (SP), Brazil. vp.costa@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Vital Paulino
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Renata Siqueira
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ambrósio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions